From mic to plug, "Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City" is stellar.

Of all the likely First World pressures that have inevitably crept into the life of Kendrick Lamar over the past year and change - since he and his Top Dawg Entertainment cohorts unleashed their brand of genre pushing Hip Hop on the world - only one truly matters: Releasing a successful debut album. Following 2011's tour de force Section.80, a slew of shine-snatching featured lyrical clinics, and a downpour of cosigns ranging from Brother Ali to Lady Gaga - K-Dot's in a position few in Rap history not named "Nas," "Canibus," or "50 Cent" have ever occupied. Only two of those sport initial releases that validated the hype machine; only one of those commercially. The same one that Kendrick's current Aftermath label-head, Dr. Dre, launched into ubiquity back in 2003. Add that backdrop to the critical acclaim of fellow TDEers Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q this year (with #controlsystem and Habits & Contradictions, respectively), and Compton's kid is swimming in a mote of expectation. Fortunately, at least creatively speaking, Kendrick delivers with ease. From mic to plug, Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City is stellar.

GKMC lives in its narratives. There's the one where Kendrick's driving his mom's van while his girl is texting him titty shots. ("Sharene a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter"). There's the one with MC Eiht where K-Dot talks about staging a robbery while working as a security guard and smoking cocaine laced marijuana ("m.A.A.d. city"). "And they wonder why I rarely smoke now / Imagine if your first blunt had you foaming at the mouth," he raps over the Sounwave and Terrence Martin-produced ratchedy madness. There's "Sing About Me, I'm Dying's" awesome perspective flip where he spits as a gang banger, then Keisha's sister (from Section.80) in consecutive verses and both literally speak their demise into existence. The Just Blaze produced "Compton" (featuring Dr. Dre) and the gloriously ignant "Backseat Freestyle" are the only true cypher cuts. No brain-twisting exploits like "Rigamortis" included this time around, for example. And that's alright. Kendrick's joy ride is as visceral as a John Singleton flick or something; equal parts Boyz In The Hood, Higher Learning, and Baby Boy, only the 2012 version told on wax. The interludes cinematically tie the good kid fighting his way through a mad city theme together and are conveniently included at the end the of songs instead of as separate tracks so they don't clutter the listen when rocked on random. The production and engineering are absolutely impressive. Structurally and conceptually, as an album, GKMC is amazingly tight.

But what keeps this LP littered with replay value is Kendrick's range as an emcee. Styles and cadences pivot on a dime, whether on or off beat. He'll flip octaves like he's harnessing first generation Dungeon Family members. Tracks like "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and the Drake-assisted, Janet Jackson-sampled "Poetic Justice" are the type of songs that should be on radio more often: Genuinely imaginative in approach. Lines like "I can feel your energy from two planets away / I got my drink / I got music / I would share it but today I'm yelling 'Bitch, don't kill my vibe!'" ("Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe") are not only supremely relatable under any tax bracket, but quotable enough to reach bootleg T-shirt status. He never takes a verse off, never forgets the importance of connecting as a person.

With Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City, Compton's flag bearer unveils a group of songs equally potent individually and collectively, meeting the mainstream and rabid fans in the middle, improbably touching that thinnest slice between mass appeal and mass respect. "I'm tryna keep it alive and not compromise the feeling we love," K-Dot kicks on that previously mentioned track-to-be Tee. "You're tryna keep it deprived and only cosign what radio does..." This isn't just a debut album. This is a shot at history.

panda Lokkz

gangsta

Arian

A classic every track is listenable there is so much to listen to every track sounds different.The only weak track is Compton (Although it gets a pardon for having that California Love feel) the rest is amazing the
storytelling is OFF THE CHARTS. Lyricism is strong This album. One of the best albums of the decade

trololty1

Cats need to focus on making great albums, not great mixtapes, not great singles, not great verses on other people stuff
At the end of the day if you want to be remember in music history, you're gonna be judged by the retail body of work you leave behind. Kendrick seems to be the only newcomer who really gets this

trisniskanen

Kaleem Shahzad

Aaron

Tim

Andr

I know people hail the word 'king' around too often, but I can actually see Kendrick being the next big star that goes on to sell 50+ million records in his career, he just needs to get a little more international

zeefqzfrax444

RonaldgsgeJack

Wow. One thing I liked about the production of this album is that the beats are different from current hip hop albums and it sounded like all the producers were on the same page. It almosts seems as if the whole album was produced by one person. That's how smoothly the album flows. Great Album Kendrick.

trexxx

Amazing album. When I listen to it, it was more than music, it was a story of a person just like me with dreams, fear, dangers, trouble, happiness, adolescence and maturity. He stayed true to his roots he kept it original but different. God bless Kendrick Lamar and hip hop...

KEIIIIVIN

SimonSantos

Good Kid M.A.A.d city one word. Outstanding. Masterfully put together, tight flows, manner of delivery of sometimes morbid content done in a socially acceptable manner, this album appeals to not only dedicated hip-hop fans but also the passive 'hip-pop' chart listeners.

Teese

bReeze

Very Reasonable Citizen

Good god, I havent heard an album like this in a GOOD minute. I will actually purchase this rather than download it. If hip hop artist pumped out more stuff like this, labels could move units like it was '98.

VAVAVAVAA

MJ

This album will go down as one of the best albums of all time for any genre just like Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Ready to Die and the other rap albums that are considered the best of all time. When those albums came out we didn't understand how great they because were very young at the time. Now we have a chance to witness a classic and a legend in the making. The storytelling is amazing. It's like a movie. You can't just listen to a couple of songs or skip through. You have to listen straight through from beginning to end.

JK

I AGREE with EVERYTHING you said @MJ . This album will go down as one of the greatest in History. It's ahead of it's time. Kendrick Lamar as the potential to be an All-time Legend. Good Kid, m.A.A.d City!!!

jboogie216

A^$e

Kendrick Lamar, best rapper out so far (not counting the veterans; like jay, Nas, quik), call me regionally biase if you want to, westcoast radio stations need to stop being held hostage and support their artist, i like other regions but fu@k them they're not westcoast.

SDK

Salvador Alcala

Dr. Dre's Rappers Always Go Classic.....Eminem, 50 Cent,The Game, And Now Kendrick Lamar. He is so lyrical.... He Is Already Killing The Rap Game With This Album.......God Damn He Is Going To Murder It With More Of His UP Coming Albums They are All Going To Rate XXl....
This Is The Best Album I Bought This Year!!!!!!!!!!

nigga50cent

BBcFring

thaciTYYYY

Amazing album. When I listen to it, it was more than music, it was a story of a person just like me with dreams, fear, dangers, trouble, happiness, adolescence and maturity. He stayed true to his roots he kept it original but different. God bless Kendrick Lamar and hip hop.

Anonymous

WreckNeck

Great Album

This is that type of Album that will talked about through generations.
It basically brought that good hip hop back and so many other things that make this Album a masterpiece.
Not only did he raise the bar for other rappers and hip hop really high, ha also raised it for himself.
can't wait for 2nd Album, Kendrick is so creative.

real

Creaminal

The frightening thing I know is his 2nd album is going to be much better than this masterpiece! Trust me I know this! Notice the impressive progression in sound and style with each tape released... But this is a definite classic!

Anonymous

Anonymous

DX is the hipsters of rap. How the fuck does Rapsody get a perfect 5 on 3.5-4 at most while this gets 4.5? Is the meaning of some of the songs over yall heads or something. Only flaw I see was from the album was that it wasn't a full two disc album.

Jan

flo

cocosback

musically this album is dope,nicca love what he doin you can feel that.but his flow is terrible on some tracks it's very hard to listen to all theses tracks in full...his "sherane story" he was rappin about is interesting but all theses interludes are boring.as fuck.& are not necessary..just like sum tracks are way too fuckin long & need to be edited (real,art of peer pressure,Sherane).we just want the music,fuck all that talkin..about da record im feelin
the intro,compton,the recipe,black boy fly,now or never,dyin of thirst,good kid,madd city & of course the lead single are all dope rest is average..so when peole talkin about illimatic that's a very great joke !!!..this album deserve 3.5 but im givin him 3...

Anonymous

RJ

Anonymous

I'm going to paraphrase Steven Speilberg (ala Shia Lebouf)
"He told me there's a time to be a human being and have an opinion, and there's a time to sell cars."
It's a damn good way to describe any exceptional effort from an artist with solid output and a decent name backing him (far from the weird Kanye/2 Chainz/Big Sean venture and the terrible output of YMCM/MBM.) Dre understand marketing better than any other artist in the hip-hop industry and Kendrick can be best seen as a half-success in branding: he's the perfect counter-measure for trite shit which charts.
Not to say that this album doesn't have problems (far from perfect or "classic"). Firstly, the Dre cameo does nothing but let Dre be Dre and groan about his legacy. The beats are on some Drake-type emotion, which would really force me question the overall integrity of the album if the lyrics and Lamar's ability to sustain an internal rythim without ever losing scope of concepts.
To be fair, this is average in comparison to the more "underground" releases which really wowed me -Skelethon, R.A.P. Music, Mourning in America and Dreaming In Color, even more mainstream bids like Food and Liqour II. (Fuck, even La Coka Nostra's new joint was amusing.)

ki

Anonymous

Troof

The best albums don't come across as instant classics, but they become classics over the span of a decade+. All I know is, I fck wit GKMC way harder now than I did when it dropped. And I fully expect to love it more next month and so on.

deuce7290

Anonymous

its a dope album. so many songs where they completely switch the beat its like they re-defined how hip hop should sound and broke the repititve verse hook verse hook verse hook formula.
backseat freestyle sucks but everything else was pretty dope 4/5

gsm626

oscar

Ricky Rozay

Shit is easy to make a classic track. Get a bangin ass beat, get someone that can actually rap or sing (like 2pac, Rozay or Hov), make sure it's catchy to the ear but isn't talkin about stupid shit, bang, classic joint. Too bad too many niggas can't craft a good song.
Bawse!!!!!!!!!!!

gsm626

Anonymous

King Leonidas

The Good Kid is way too overrated!
I can state 20 rap albums i liked more this year. Okay, it's a decent album with a few bangers, but it's definitely NOT a classic. Even Kendrick himself said "Don't call my Album a classic".
There are three major problems with this album:
1. Some of the tracks are too long, so that the album doesn't flow properly. If you do such long songs, you have to bring some new elements to the beat (check for instance "Money Trees" (great song otherwise), "Real", "Sing about me", "B* don't kill my vibe"). Honestly, less is more.
2. I don't really feel some of the beats. "Sherane" and "Real" are boring, "Backseat Freestyle" is a pain in da ass, "I'm dying of thirst" is sleep-soothing.
3. The double / triple layering of Kendricks voice gets on my nerve, i just want to hear kendrick rhyming! With that alien voice he sounds like a weirdo.
Don't get me wrong, i really love Kendrick's music, especially "Section 80" and the "O.D." Mixtape were dope, but i'm not really feeling this one.
I guess in 6 months this album will be irrelevant and replaced by some other hyped ish.

Anonymous

^

King Leonidas

Just accept my opinion folks, i accept yours too. :) My concern is mainly to warn people, not to buy this album without listening.
When it comes to lyrics and delivery, i can't deny that this album is excellent (and i like the "Sherane" track lyrically). But the length and beat selection took away from the magic. To me it just seems a little rushed and unbalanced.
And that makes the difference between a good album and a great album.
I think that Ab-Soul joint is much better than this one (and unfortunately less appreciated).

khordkutta

Alessandro

Ricky Rozay

Don't believe the hype. This is a mediocre album. Just because it is better than everything else coming out doesn't make it a classic. The rap game is trash now a days, with people like Future, Gucci, Lil Wayne and all these other lames it is easy for someone different from what is the norm be declared "hip-hop's savior." Everybody who offers an alternative to what is currently on the radio is praised as the best thing since slice bread. The problem with that is people are grading albums on a damn curve. This shit is mediocre not a classic. Yes, it is better than what is out now. But what is out now? Future, 2 Chainz, Gucci? F*ck, look at this guy's competition. It is easy to be declared the pound for pound king when you boxing guys who wouldn't even make the cut in a bar fight. SMDH.
Bawse!!!!!!!

blahhhh

To each his own...

In my opinion, weather or not you like this album comes down to how you listen to hip hop music. There are those fans that live vicariously through different artists based largely on their image and slightly on lyrics. And there are fans who really appreciate the hip hop art form. Look at how many fans Wayne lost after he started dressing all different and skating. He has the same lyrical content, they just didn't want to emulate him anymore. Still selling to them white kids though, so he doesn't care. You can call it dickriding, but a lot of people feel Kendrick because he represents the majority in his music. More people can say they've experienced his story than others. How many people have REALLY sold dope or gone to jail on a gun charge? If you're honest with yourself you know it's not a lot. Not only that, he's talented. He's definitely not an ABC bubble gum rapper. If you want to fantasize about a life you'll never live, you will not like this album. If you appreciate hip hop from its roots, storytelling, you'll probably love it.

To hold his own...

I think Wayne started losing fans because they started to grow up. He had to really change his image to keep a young fan base. And he still is successful at it, not only selling to white kids, but to young black kids that dont know any better. Kendrick is talented and gots lyrical content on Section 80. This album was dumb down a bit and kept at a teens mind set, just like the Wayne albums, just better lyrics. If you go back when the 90's rappers were making albums they appealed to kids then, and when they grew up and understood the lyrics better, it appealed even more. Thats what makes a classic. Thats why you got mixed reviews, because people with a mature sense of music know this is a great album for the time being.

Anonymous

redum

Mayne

This album was certainly a good effort and quite possibly the best mainstream Hip Hop album of the year, I felt the production let it down a bit. At times it just didn't feel like I was listening to a story based in Compton. Of course the lyrics ensured this, but I can't help but wish the production was a bit more traditional West Coast sounding. Like, the beats for "Sherane", "Backseat Freestyle", "Money Trees" and "Real" could have done with more of a typical west coast beat or some G-Funk.. But lyrically, this album was pretty solid nonetheless.

Anthony

Anonymous

ghostface

This was a good album, but I still bump section 80 alot more. If I was to pick an album of the year I would still have to give it to Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music. He really said what he wanted on that album.

Will

Anonymous

Yo Poppa Large u dumb as shyt thinkin it isnt good this album has lyrical flow it tells a story and it has good beats half the albums that come out now a days dont have that shyt so learn hip hop before u post stupid shyt

Anonymous

poppa large

Ramelo

Kendrick has alot of talent...but I have to admit, as I put the album on and kept playing it & playing it I began to get bored with most of the album. Sharane, Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Sing About Me are timeless songs. Great records..but there's alot of filler on this record the more you play it. It's still the best debut of a new artist in a long time, probably since Game's Documentary in 2005. I say it's a 3.75/5

SDK

Anonymous

yo if you down wit kendricks movement youll probobly fuck with this spic shittin on swagged out nonsense rappers all across the globe wit bitches wit big titties and zombies in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR1sRsqFrWY

Anonymous

Anonymous

Speak Da Truth

Good music, the kind of hip hop I can kick it to. If you don't like it, to each his own. Kendrick reminds me of what we grew up listening to. Good music, dope flow, dope production. No cookie cutter BS. Youngsters growing up now don't realize how dope this is because look who they compare him to, this generation is growing up brainwashed thinking all these clowns are Hip Hop. They will argue that Lil Wayne is the GOAT, lol.

rey rios

d

g8r bootz

lol @ all the haterz who probably just like to bandwagon on the phrase "good kid, wack album" and think they're all creative and shit. fuck off. let me b real. there's a lot of dick riders out there who prob voted this shit up a 5. okay we get that and ya, they were dickriders so their rating was a little generous. and there was over 400 ppl that voted, so ya the rating might be over exaggerated. and to say it's like the greatest fucking album ever and kendrick's a legend is going too far. but with all that being said, judging this album at face value, it's more than exceptional. i would rate this album against other shit coming out at this time, and compared to all the other hyped shit out there, this is pretty damn good (at least as far as a mainstream album from a somewhat upcoming rapper goes). some pretty tight beats, good substance (not fakers talking about money and clubs and shit), and solid (not great) rap skills. and kendrick (not to sound like a dickrider or anything) is one of the few rappers out there in radio music doing this shit and being real. some give credit where it's due, shit. this album aint a ready made classic, but it aint sleeper either.

raidfuljohnson

ROZAY

Hip Hop started in the streets and it will forever be in the streets, the fact of the matter is. Nobody in the streets is listening to this guy, only kids from the burbs. I ain't feelin this album, i don't care how lyrical he is, it's fuckin wack in the streets. Only people in the urban community (not suburban ) should have say to what is dope hip hop and what isn't, this is NOTHING special. Kids from the suburbs tend to think just because a rapper is "lyrical" that makes them great! 2Pac , Too Short, Eazy E, and many many others weren't the most complex rappers but they are more legends, why? Because they kept it street. These underground, and lyrical cats can rhyme as many words out of the dictionary that they want and it is still wack in the streets why? Wack subject matter, wack hooks, wack beats, nobody wants to listen to any of that. People wake up, street hip hop (biggie, 2pac, big l , ross ) any rapper that reps the streets, YES even Gucci will have more respect than these lyrical cats, because hip hop IS the streets, and if the streets aren't feelin it, than it doesn't matter how versatile you are, wack is wack no matter what, this album is nothing special, and kids from the burbs need to stop givin this shit 5 star reviews!!

history

need to check your history on the roots of hip hop... born in the streets yeah- but the ryhmes and emcees were as diverse as the streets are. The thing that the greats have in common is not that they "kept it street" it's that they kept it REAL. They talk about the shit they see and their experiences and what matters to them truthfully. Sounds like you're the one with the narrow experience of the world, not 'the streets'.

SDK

BK

@ROZAY
Nigga shut the fuck up. I live in Crown Heights Brooklyn. You don't know a goddamn thing about the streets. You probably live in a middle-class burb if you even anywhere near a city.
There's all types of people here. Into all types of music. Some niggas like lyrical shit, others rock ignorant shit, some don't even listen to hip hop. You can't sum up the hood in one paragraph. So again. Shut the fuck up. Bitch.

Pegasus Flow

@ROZAY, you a buster. You post this shit over and over and somehow you sound more and more like an asshole. Sittin there trying to talk for everybody in the "streets", FOH with that shit. This album might not be a classic but its damn good. And no matter how much of that bitching and moaning you do, it wont change that fact. People like you need to be hit for talkin such dumb shit. Close minded little bitch.

ha ha

yolanda solomon

I was just saying that the lyrical content of hip hop is weak this summer and lo an behold, here come's Kendrick Lamar to prove me wrong. This is truly a masterpiece. It is a classic. I have to listen to this album from beginning to end, with no skips. He is truly telling a story bringing his lyrics to life making me feel like I'm watching a movie and not listening to a CD.

THE FINAL SCORE ON THIS

THIS ALBUM IS GARBAGE...LETS SEE THE FORMULA, OVERHYPED INTERNET RAPPER, BORING ASS FLOW, CONCEPT IS FUCKIN WEAK, THIS ALBUM IS SOMETHING TO BREAK WEED ON OR ACTUALLY TO BUY, OPEN AND AFTER A SKIM THROUGH FRISBEE OUT THE WINDOW OR COMPLAIN TO THE CD STORE AND DEMAND TO SEE THE MANAGER SINCE THEY WONT RETURN THE CD UPON OPENING IT, THIS ALBUM IS A 0/20 SORRY

James Bond

LI

Money trees my favorite joint up hea...don't forget this lyrical shit came from NY tho...west coast niggaz did not start this lyrical shit...but overall its a cool album but dope concept tho....i'm a NY nigga living on the west...so i know what dude talkin...ppl think its trash cuz they don't know those places...he took niggaz to the REAL compton...

Nick T

NY-harlem

Yo i aint mad at this comment at all. Diddy's first album was a classic. I could still bump that. But thats the problem you comparing an Album now to Diddy's shit which came out in 1997.
Whats wrong with Hip Hop is there are alot of haters in this game. Back when "No way out"(diddy's first album) came out and all the Albums before that came out it wasn't at all cool to be a Hater. It seems like now everyone got their PHD(playa hater degree) Like Mase said.
Niggas need to stop fucking hating i swear its to many haters.

Anonymous

Pegasus Flow

Wouldnt call it a classic just yet but its exceptional. The people that are shittin on it really doesn't mean anything but judging from their comments, it looks like a lot of it went over their heads. Oh well, to each his own.

Ebonyc

Notorious H.A.T.E.R.

This might be the most overrated album off all time. A month from now when you dudes are done wiping Kendrick Lamar's semen off your lips you are going to realize you were duped and caught up in the hype. I give it a -5 to offset the overrating and bring it back to its true score, a 3 or 3.5 at best.

hay hater

Notorious H.A.T.E.R.

@anonymous I actually respect what you said. However, this is hip-hop which is competitive and any time someone is compared to the greats or considered a potential great their work is closely scrutinized. Nice point though, I agree with you but this is hip-hop and not rock and roll, every emcee wants to be mentioned with the rap gods.

Anonymous

to each his own taste man
it's ok if you don't like it. we supposed to live in a free world so there is no issue if some people find this album "trash"
however it goes both way. no need to bash people who really enjoy this album
i don't know if it ever happened to you but sometime there are some artists or some type of music you don't like cause it doesn't match with your state of mind at that particular time. but a few years later when you listen to the shit back it totally blows your fuckin mind
therefore there is no need to argue bout an album wether it's hot or not. everything is relative man

NY-harlem

Huey Nuisance

Classic, the nitpicking is silly here. This album has not one pop song, and this kid can spit, flow, and rhyme his ass off, idk what you cats missing, but I'd love to see yall top albums of the year list haba
But Forreal though.
This nigga put his heart and soul into this album, he actually took the time to craft a actual cohesive lp with no outshining features. a deep comical interesting storyline, and the beats were perfect for each song/concept. He did all this himself in 2012..and the only reason we liked other past classics because they did the same thing with their albums(illmatic, marshall mathers lp reasonable doubt food & liquor etc)..and most importantly it was because they were one of a kind. stop comparing it to the past classics, its a whole nuva era moe, Whatchu wanna here a 21 year old rap on boom bap beats n shit in 2012? Thats ya'll want from every rapper? Really?? Ya'll want every rapper to be Nas? lol This kid is his own man, got his own story, his own style, his own everything, I applaud this nigga, he's def going to be making noise in the future lol i be that's killing Shyne, cuz he know he got about 4 months before niggas forget him completely..
5/5

NY-Harlem

Thank you family. This nigga is special and if you don't realize that shit fuck you. Straight up you niggas is whats wrong with Hip Hop. The beats on this shit are hot i can't believe how many people are founding any little thing to hate this real shit.
And the comments about how niggas in the hood don't listen to this shit has got to be the most untrue comment i have ever read on any website. Right now this is the only thing niggas is bumping in the hood.(this and Meek Mills album)
You nerd online niggas is getting out of line with yall comments. Niggas in NY is tired of that bull shit. Maybe in those south hoods but in NY we only play that real shit.
This Album is a fucking classic. Fuck it i said. Kendrick is that nigga now. The Jig is up faggots.

Warren Peace

I'll still put L.I.G. a bit above G.K.M.C. As far as west coast albums go I think Planet Asia's Black Belt Theatre is super underrated. G.K.M.C. is worthy of the praise its getting and I'm glad to see it doing well. Now if Jay Elec would grow a pair and drop an album it would cap the year off right. I won't hold my breath though.

Anonymous

claude mittchell

Pegasus Flow

People stay talkin shit like their opinion means more than someone else's. And you can say the same thing about this comment. You may not like it but that doesn't mean it's trash, you just dont like it, plain and simple. And the comments about how it wouldnt get bumped in the hood are just stupid; useless point to try and make. I enjoyed it.

toppa shot

I like the concept of the album. The beats are solid, nothing spectacular. Lyrically, Kendrick is on point. The only flaw in his package for me is his voice. I think his voice is terrible and a lot of times he combines it with a mechanical, almost robotic delivery which makes him difficult to sit through for long periods. I appreciate the effort he puts into his music though. There are some songs on the album I really enjoy, but not all of it. His style just doesn't grab me like it does others. It's just a matter of personal taste.

Sean

Kendrick Lamar's major debut is stellar but it is not a classic.Reasonable Doubt and Illmatic are part of the hip hop bible an they're just untouchable lps.Thought this is a great album, it really doesn't compare to Lupe's The Cool or Food&Liquor. I believe Kendrick is well on his way of producing classic in future though.

THE GAME

g-sus

Eddy King

Fuck every hater on this website. This is the greatest debut album since food & liquor.. absolutely an album that defines a young generation and is sure to shift the thinking of many younger people to recognize good music.

Anonymous

Nick T

kendrick would've sold more (maybe 300k), but all you little nerdy backpacker mainstream-hating underground geeks say "album sales dont mean shit" just as an excuse not to BUY the album, yet wayne kanye jayz eminem are all selling good numbers

Nigganati

Lyrically and Conceptually a historically great album! I still like section 80 more and expected a lil more when it comes to the beat selection and didnt like the parts where he was trying to sound like an alien but none the less still a great album

Anonymous

I be that jiggy ngga

to all who says this album is wack needs to take theyre weak ass music choices out of here. just because its not a typical hood beat doesnt make it trash. What Kendrick did on this album was make you think. same as tupac. he wanted to paint a picture of what he went through as a child and a young adult. all you ignorant ass people cant think so you cant understand. dope album. clearly a 5.

Jordan

Can't understand the hype, its not great from a musical standpoint and its not great Hip Hop. He can't hook for shit, the beats don't move me and he rarely goes hard, someone please tell me what's so good about this album? BTW I'm a big Kendrick fan there's very few if any emcees in the game that could go bar for bar with him but this album is trash.

chillin

Pastor

Dude you're absurd. This is Kendrick at his best and its pretty fuckin good hip hop. How can you be a Kendrick fan and not appreciate GKMC? The album is as close to Kendrick's life as you can get without knowing him. He definitely goes hard when it plays into the story (ie backstreet freestyle, maad city). The production is sweet, and it plays from beginning to end seemlessly. Keep waiting for ONIFC to come out you should get plenty of "great" hip hop with hooks and shit. Don't call yourself a Kendrick fan. That's my rant. Preach

ShinbrigGoku

you have to understand it's not about the beat or the catchy hooks, he puts a much much deeper message in his music that obviously you just missed out on. Each song has it's own vibe to it, it wasn't the best in production but who cares it's still a solid 9/10 album

GoReadABook

haha the fuck is with haters in hip hop. Lame ass fuckboys need to quit acting like cynicism is the coolest shit ever. Kendrick is dope...this isn't 1993 morons. Y'all sound like my fuckin grandparents...'back in the day....', shut the fuck up

ShinbrigGoku

D-Train

This album is seriously over rated but on the otherhand this site is not strictly an underground site... He can rap and has good word play but his voice and delivery don't move me...The production is to much like everything at the club, zero boom bap, soul or funk flavor for me......If you like Rick Ross and that stuff then of course this is a great album but other wise its a good 3.5 but nothing special at all.....It's a good album for a mainsteam artist but does not touch. Styles of beyond, Tab One & Sunshine, Sean P, Epidemic, Purpose, Big Remo etc....People use the term classic all the time and most are not ever close..... Reasonable doubt was a classic but there are albums better than that..... Brand Nubian- One for all, Show biz and AG- Runaway slave, Diamond D-Stunts blunts and Hip hop, Lords for the underground- Here come the lords, Tribe Called Quest- Low end Theory, EPMD- Striclty business, Slum Village- vol 1, Lootpack- Soundpieces, Alcoholics- 21 and over, Pharcyde-Bizarre Ride, Wu- Enter the 36 chambers, Raekwon-ob4cl 1, Mobb Deep- The infamous, Organized konfusion- Stress the exstinction agenda, main source- Breaking atoms InI- Center of attention and many more !!!

BigMike

Anonymous

It will go down as a classic but it won't come close to reasonable doubt or illmatic. It will be up there with albums like get rich or die tryin and food and liquor but illmatic and reasonable doubt are just untouchable. All classic albums but illmatic and reasonable doubt are just above classic now. They are exactly what hip-hop is

funny

i realy realy like this album would certainly put that in my top 5 favorites of the last few years of all time i dont time will tell. and people complaining about not much dre influence s a mtter of fact i love that. dre is one of the greatest for sure but still i love the fact kendrick does it by himself. the concept of this album is ill, love it, big minus about this album tho his voice, why does he does that high voice so much?, i love his natural voice, but overall a verry good album imo, im so curious what people will think of thiss album in about 5 years form now :P. next album im looking forward to is saigons new one and after that talibs one

Good Kid, w.a.a.ck album

Is it me or these young rappers can't rhyme? I remember when Jay-Z and Nas and them were in their primes you had up and coming guys like Cassidy, Beans, Fab and Freeway. Now you got all these non rapping youngsters. What is crazy is that the new white boys are going harder than these niggas. SMDH. I give this a 2 for being mediocre, really a 3 but had to lower the ratings to offset all the hype.

Anonymous

Adrian Baker

This album is dope. I agree with some comments that KL is better because the competition is weak. But never the less, KL put together a well thought out and lyrical album. As far as classic, only time can tell but i definitely think it has potential.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Notorious H.A.T.E.R.

Don't believe the hype. This is a mediocre album. Just because it is better than everything else coming out doesn't make it a classic. The rap game is trash now a days, with people like Future, Gucci, Lil Wayne and all these other lames it is easy for someone different from what is the norm be declared "hip-hop's savior." Everybody who offers an alternative to what is currently on the radio is praised as the best thing since slice bread. The problem with that is people are grading albums on a damn curve. This shit is mediocre not a classic. Yes, it is better than what is out now. But what is out now? Future, 2 Chainz, Gucci? F*ck, look at this guy's competition. It is easy to be declared the pound for pound king when you boxing guys who wouldn't even make the cut in a bar fight. SMDH.

Anonymous

KINGBONUS

Well, said it a ok album. But far from classic. But for these new kids I guess this is what passes for classic. Damn, yall lowering the bar. But all in all a solid album, like Xzibit's and Lupe's...good but nothing great.

Anonymous

CitizenLuKane

"Would you say my intelligence now is great relief?
And it's safe to say that our next generation maybe can sleep
With dreams of being a lawyer or doctor
Instead of boy with a chopper that hold the cul de sac hostage?"

Anonymous

sdotd23

Damn, this shits so good, I don't know when i will get over it. I am a be just fiending for new Kendrick now. Last album,i expected to be this good was Cole world and we all know how disappointing that was compared to FNL. I am a huge fan of mainstream artists. Nas's Life if Good nice but me being a 22 year old, i cant really related to most of the songs on there. So by far this is the best album since MBDTWF.

Anonymous

RIMS

That "Backseat Freestyle" beat is off the fuckin chain! The whole song is! This album is dope. Just a shame no beats from Dre. All of Dre's proteges' albums have been produced mostly by Dre. Im talkin Snoop, Em, and 50.

zikurats

Anonymous

poppa large

it is over-hyped and kids dont realize how brainwashed they are by mainstream media. The album is weak because:
a) has no edge, too much singing, too laid back, feels more like some soul or r&b album half the time. dosnt feel like a hip-hop album
b)the subject matter is too basic and gets repetitive. story about some everyday life shit. he rambles on about nothing.
c)his voice tone has become way to high pitched and funny sounding.
d)the production is talented and the album is well mixed (like the crazy snare flange effect on track 1) and sonically sounds amazing but half the beats are too slow and are a pretty bland.
e)more gimmicky i'm from compton- blah, blah, compton- is played out and annoying
f)weak guest appearences like Drake the robot pretty boy and MC Eiht?, and Dre reciting ghost written lines by Kendrick is wack
g) those long talking interludes every few songs breaks things up and is boring (i get the concept but- too much talking)
h)overall this album feels watered down and some of the beats are weak.
I)shit is over-rated and over hyped and that is annoying enough.
J) all the religious talk and references and praying at the beginning is annoying and imposing religion on people- is it a christian rap album??lol
he screwed this one up but will probably do better next time. get rid of dre! Ab Souls Control System album kills this and THAT ALBUM HAS INTERESTING SMART CONTENT WAY BEYOND GKMC.ONLY IOGNORANT PEOPLE AND KIDS THINKS GKMC IS DEEP OR COMPLEX. HE'S TELLING A STORY, SO WHAT HOW HARD IS IT TO WRITE A STORY- HIS LYRICS ARE LACKING ON HALF THE SONGS.
dope shit:
Chino XL- Ricanstruction
Showbiz and A.G.- Mugshot music (and preloaded)
Vinnie Paz- Oct.22
Sean Price- Oct.30
apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson- Nov.13
Roc Marciano- Nov.13
you know?? real shit you SUCKAAAAAAZ!

BOMB DIG-TITTIES

EY WHAT YOU TALKING? YOU ARE THE STUPID LITTLE BOY THINKING THAT SKYZOO/ELEPHANT/TIGER/COW ALBUM IS BETTER THAN THIS. SECTION 80 WAS THE BOMBTASTIC ALBUM AND THEN HE THE PUTTING dr. DRE ON THIS AND IT WAS EX-RATING ALBUM. LEARN THE LISTENING TRAIT BEFORE YOU LISTEN TO ALBUMS TRAITOR. NO ONE LIKEY YOUR STUPID OPINION.
GET OUTTTTTTTTTTT OF COMMENT SECTION 80 ANYTIME I DONT WANT TO HEAR YOUR GARBAGE MY DAY WENT WELL AND THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO COMMENT ON ALBUMS

mr Gibbs

Section 80 is still his best album to date period. This album is a little more commercial for example Mary J. to me just sounds out of place and boring but the quality tracks are really good. Kendrick Lamar's flow, thought process and delivery are to me above all rappers out now. And I believe that he is setting a new hip-hop bar for the industry. Cop it, buy it, get it, it's heat. But if your sleeping on Section 80 that is a classic. 4/5

Anonymous

GKMC>Section 80. Not a single bad song on here, whereas Section 80 had that awful collab with Q. Plus this concept is even more well thought out then Section 80's. And yes this had a few tracks with more mainstream appeal then the tracks on Section 80, but overall I'd say this less mainstream which is very surprising. Not that mainstream is bad when its done right, and in the case of Swimming Pools, the Mary G Blige track, etc, it certainly was done right.

^hipster

david

People in the streets listen to 2 Chains? and I quote "mustard, Ketchup!"... KL is better than 2 chainz, french. Gucci? WACK as fuk rappers. I think 2 chainz is alright not a good album. Ross his first album was good, after that maybe 3-4 songs on a album, fat fuck got lazy. KL album I listened to it and its good, don't know about classic, but an album that i'd actually buy since its not filled with fillers

Anonymous

jd1zzl3

Murph

Given 10 years, and the sales that he deserves, this is easily a 5/5 and XXL rating, a 10/10 all of that. Excellent storytelling that exemplifies all the struggles that he went through as a youngin' in Compton, this is easily a favorite for album of the year.

Anonymous

mrveintecinco

gobberpooper

The fact that nobody likes/has talked about "Real" makes me happy. Let me tell you why. I've gone through some serious shit and some serious problems in my short life. I connected with "Real" the most. It's allowed me to open up about so many things. "Real" is about not accepting yourself and hating who you started as, who you became, and who you are now. It's about not being able to move on with life because you are in your way. If people can't connect to it, that means they're in a better place than me, and that makes me happy.

Anonymous

If you go to the hood right now and ask most young people who they listen to they'll say 2 Chainz, Future, Rick Ross, French Montana etc.. not Kendrick, J. Cole, or Lupe.. I'm in college so I can tell that most college kids and other adults listen to less mindless bullshit and more rappers with better lyrics and music.. I even know adults in their 30s and 40s who bought Kendrick's album.. I'm not saying the hood is responsible for these wack rappers, I'm just saying what I've seen..

A dude from ATL

Hip Hop started in the streets and it will forever be in the streets, the fact of the matter is. Nobody in the streets is listening to this guy, only kids from the burbs. I ain't feelin this album, i don't care how lyrical he is, it's fuckin wack in the streets. Only people in the urban community (not suburban ) should have say to what is dope hip hop and what isn't, this is NOTHING special. Kids from the suburbs tend to think just because a rapper is "lyrical" that makes them great! 2Pac , Too Short, Eazy E, and many many others weren't the most complex rappers but they are more legends, why? Because they kept it street. These underground, and lyrical cats can rhyme as many words out of the dictionary that they want and it is still wack in the streets why? Wack subject matter, wack hooks, wack beats, nobody wants to listen to any of that. People wake up, street hip hop (biggie, 2pac, big l , ross ) any rapper that reps the streets, YES even Gucci will have more respect than these lyrical cats, because hip hop IS the streets, and if the streets aren't feelin it, than it doesn't matter how versatile you are, wack is wack no matter what, this album is nothing special, and kids from the burbs need to stop givin this shit 5 star reviews!!

gobberpooper

I used to live in multiple projects in the Twin Cities, and have since been able to get out and move to a nicer place. I can tell you have no idea what you're talking about. You're saying things to pander because you think "being in the streets" means trying to not be smart of have a message. I heard and saw some of the most powerful things there. Just like every other group of people, there were some dumb ones and some smart ones and most people were average. Hip hop is not the streets, it's the people. It's about the common man. When you see people just rapping, they put themselves at the same level as their audience. You understand nothing about this album, you understand nothing about the streets, you understand nothing about hip hop. The ignorance and fakeness of your comment just pisses me off because you're as bad and ignorant as who you're pretending not to be. Fuck off.

Anonymous

yoyouyourself, you fucking ghetto retard. Hip-hop is more than the streets. The streets don't even buy albums. Besides, most people love this album. Get your head outta your ass and listen to the album with an open mind.

ricky rozay

STREEZY

But the streets feel and listen to Officer Rick Ross' fake fuckin ass?? You fuckin retarded hypocrite. This dude IS from the streets, how could you not like this album? You'd rather listen to a fake talentless piece of shit like Rick Ross? Fuckin nerd.

Anonymous

Kizman

Only in hip hop are fans (especially on this site) so eager and desperate to call every major (or minor) release a "classic". Just look at the comment pages of reviews on this site. You got people calling the new O.C. & Apollo Brown classic, Ab-Souls album classic, new Nas, Lupe classic. Even subpar albums from Rick Ross and Slaughterhouse some are calling classic. This new Kendrick barely been out a week and some are already comparing it to Illmatic (lol). I'm sorry people, but 10 instant classics did not drop this year. The fanboyism is on a level never seen before. Some of the albums I mentioned are great, but fans need to chill the f#%k out and let these albums breathe a little before calling them classic.

LV

nah. people listen to what they like. i know people that listen to lil b and love that shit. its what it is... not everybody is the same.
but crying about whether an album is classic or not is fucking stupid. listen to the music, whatever it is, and stfu.

N.B.

Agreed. It takes more than a couple of days or even a couple of weeks to determine whether an album is really a classic or not.
There are only so many albums that just blow you away on the first couple of listens. To me, GKMC is not one of those albums. It is a good album but it isn't a classic. There are just too many songs that are average and just don't fit the theme he was trying to create.
There have been some stellar albums this year but GKMC isn't better than Nas "Life is Good", Rapsody "The Idea of Beautiful", Killer Mike & El-P "RAP Music" or Skyzoo "A Dream Deferred".

Anonymous

well i don't think time is relevant to say if an album is a classic or not, unless you work for the rolling stones magazine
when illmatic, doggystyle, the chronic, 36 chambers, 2001, the infamous etc got released, people already knew they were classics
it is more a matter of having a good product than letting time deciding wether an album is worthy of being called a "classic"
but on this album i have to say when i first listened to it i couldn't help but say to myself "what the fuck ?!!". i was expecting much more from kendrick than this product he just delivered. only several tracks are really good, as far as the others it's really average. that's why i cannot call it a classic
to me the only album who really made this year so far is Nas with his Life is Good album

Ny-harlem

I agree with you my nigga. I hate all that extra bass mad drumline for nothing ass beats. This nigga Kendrick had that soulful feel to this Album. I love the beats on this album. I love the beats Nas always picks. But people say he rhymes to bad beats. Both them niggas beats take you to where their stories begins. Love that shit.

d-nucks

To everybody saying the beats are weak i disagree with you....to me beats are more than just up tempto and bangin. I think they need to fit the mood the vibe and the subject matter of the song. They complemented Kendrisks flow and subject matter, and they were perfect for the mood of the album. To me I think so many people have been force fed and programmed with the same type of beats...same 808 kicks same ol cookie cutter sound. If a nigga ain't rappin on the same type of beats Wayne, Rick Ross, drake, Wocka Flocka, 2 chains, Kanye, or any other radio friendly artist is rapping on....ya'll think the beats are weak. Kendrick picked good beats for his album....when you listen to the album he brings you in to his world...it feels like you are not just listenening to music...its more like an experience. Which makes the album STAND OUT, in my opinion

Mason Betha

Anonymous

yeah but as a hip-hop fan you always expect a certain type of beat no matter what the theme of the album is.
I understand the album was about a storytelling, and I'm all good with this concept. but like i said below, as far as the beat goes, some tracks on the album are wack as fuck. indeed you always expect a certain melody, a certain level of creativity when it comes to the instrumentals.
and when you listen to the tracks like :
- sherane,
- money trees,
- good kid,
- real,
- black boy fly,
you feel like there is something missing to support the story kendrick is portraying with his lyrics. therefore, as far as I'm concern, half of the beats used for the album are lazy as fuck while the other half goes really hard like the tracks i mentioned in my comment below
but to everybody his own opinion man. I'm just giving mine since many people are calling it a classic i felt like they just exaggerating about this album "classicness"

Anonymous

kendrick lamar is talented as fuck but ...
... this album is soooooo fuckin OVERRATED !
out of 15 tracks merely 7 are good :
- bitch don't kill my vibe
- backseat freestyle
- the art of peer pressure
- M.A.A.D city
- swimming pools
- compton
- the recipe
even though the lyricism on this album is fuckin good, the other tracks as far as the beat goes are wack as fuck
this album worths a 3/5 notthin more
stop letting your brain gettin washed by the mainstream media and stop the dickridin shit
i always give props where it's due but come on, there is no way this album can be considered a classic

Anonymous

d-nucks

poppa large

poppa large:
it is over-hyped and kids dont realize how brainwashed they are by mainstream media. The album is weak because:
a) has no edge, too much singing, too laid back, feels more like some soul or r&b album half the time. dosnt feel like a hip-hop album
b)the subject matter is too basic and gets repetitive. story about some everyday life shit. he rambles on about nothing.
c)his voice tone has become way to high pitched and funny sounding.
d)the production is talented and the album is well mixed (like the crazy snare flange effect on track 1) and sonically sounds amazing but half the beats are too slow and are a pretty bland.
e)more gimmicky i'm from compton- blah, blah, compton- is played out and annoying
f)weak guest appearences like Drake the robot pretty boy and MC Eiht?, and Dre reciting ghost written lines by Kendrick is wack
g) those long talking interludes every few songs breaks things up and is boring (i get the concept but- too much talking)
h)overall this album feels watered down and some of the beats are weak.
I)shit is over-rated and over hyped and that is annoying enough.
J) all the religious talk and references and praying at the beginning is annoying and imposing religion on people- is it a christian rap album??lol
he screwed this one up but will probably do better next time. get rid of dre! Ab Souls Control System album kills this and THAT ALBUM HAS INTERESTING SMART CONTENT WAY BEYOND GKMC.ONLY IOGNORANT PEOPLE AND KIDS THINKS GKMC IS DEEP OR COMPLEX. HE'S TELLING A STORY, SO WHAT HOW HARD IS IT TO WRITE A STORY- HIS LYRICS ARE LACKING ON HALF THE SONGS.
dope shit:
Chino XL- Ricanstruction
Showbiz and A.G.- Mugshot music (and preloaded)
Vinnie Paz- Oct.22
Sean Price- Oct.30
apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson- Nov.13
Roc Marciano- Nov.13
you know?? real shit you SUCKAAAAAAZ!

D-NUCKS

And so what he has religous content on his album..why would you have a problem with that? He can't talk about his faith? You don't have a problem with all these other artist talking about greed, money, sex, lust, murder over and over...but soon as a nigga talk about jesus its too much?

yup

Nick T

dickheads

I luv when i nigga come on a website and say everybody from such and such don't play this shit. And other people come out and say. Well im from the such and such and makes the other guy look like an ass.

thatswhathappens

^

wzrd

Im not into calling album's classics right after they come out & usually like to give it a couple months but this album deserves the hype. I wasnt a big fan of Kendrick Lamar after Sec.80 but I cud tell he wasnt ur average rapper; he had lyricism & music w/substance. I knew he wud do it differently during this album & it's very well balanced. Radio mainstream songs like Swimming pool, the recipe & poetice justice but also other songs like black boy fly,money trees, good kid,maad city & now or never in which Mary J.Blige just kills it. The production isnt outstanding but the beats fit his style perfectly. I was always think artist should strive for balance w/their albums & he does just that. Im not a fan of all the songs on the album but there's way more good than bad. This is so far the best album that I've heard all year w/all respects to Nas LFIG,Slaughterhouse:on the house & Lupe F&L2.#10/10

Eduard

I honestly think this album is pretty overrated. It's one of the nicer albums I've heard in the last year, but I really couldn't call this a classic. The lyrics are nice but just the fact that he's telling stories doesn't make him a perfect storyteller.

James

NY-Harlem

If you don't like this Album i understand. Its not that up tempo crunk music that some people like. This Album has great lyrics mix with a great flow(dude flow is crazy) and i love this nigga hook/chrous game. I admit the voice was annoying at first but it grew on me. This dude is special and this is coming from a nigga who raps himself. And i know im nice but thats another story.

NY-Harlem

Im back to just say that this Album is probably the best Album i heard in like 4 years.(since Nas' Untitled Album) I also think that LIG is just as good as this Album. Doesn't matter which one was better but both Albums was flawless.
Back to this Album. Im going to give this Album more credit then Nas' Life is Good Album because this was Kendrick's first major lable debut Album.(Nas is on his tenth) I can't stress the fact of how perfectly put this Album is. Not only that but the Songs, beats, Hooks, Lyrics all put together is just amazing. Tho LIG had about 12 songs on there i like to rewind ten times before i get to the next song(thats how good that Album was),Kendrick Album is so great just listening to it straight thru. Art of Pressure, Money Tree, Good kid, Maad City, Dying of Thirst are great songs with alot of replay value.

Big Boss

Great album and concept. Kendrick is the man, love how he changes his voice and tone to fit the song. A dre beat would have been lovely but it really didn't even need one. It flows very well song to song. Be jammin' to this for a while.

STREEZY

This is one of the ONLY albums (lately) that I've felt that just after listening to the whole thing, that "this is only the beginning." Im talkin replay value here. That's how you know an album is incredible. The first listen is just the tip of the iceberg. It's gonna take several listens to fully get the messages and meanings of songs, and this album will only grow on you. Real good album, Kendrick's voice, at first, I didn't like, but come on, this muthafucka can RAP! The only thing that I cant fuckin understand is how he gonna be an Aftermath artist, heavily associated with Dr. Dre and not have ONE beat from Dre?? That makes no sense. I can only imagine how good the album would have been if he had been on the boards. One more thing, that Compton song should have a west coast-type beat but instead Just Blaze produces it. And Dre's on that song. Dre shoulda produced that shit! WTF.

YEBO

ONE OF THE WORST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR, THAT AIN'T NO CLASSIC, KENDRICK HAS NO REPLAY VALUE, STUPID LYRICS, DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO RHYME, HAS ANNOYING VOICE AND IS ONE OF THE WORST NEW RAPPERS OUT THERE.
ONLY NIGGAZ WHO ARE WORSE THAN THIS FRAUD ASS KENDRICK LAMAR NIGGA:
- HOPSIN
- JOELL ORTIZ
- ROYCE DA FAG NINE
- SHYNE
- CROOKED I
- JOE BUDDEN
- BUCKSHOT